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Biological Weapons
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Published: September 19, 2006
One of the more commonly known weapons in warfare are biological weapons. As opposed to nuclear weapons which are atomic in nature, this weapon contains living microorganisms. Biological weapons include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The intent of biological weapons is to kill or otherwise incapacitate the enemy.
Biological weapons have been used to attack an enemy for centuries. History tells us that in 1346, the Tartars catapulted the remains of dead plague victims to infect the citizens of Kaffa, in the Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, in 1763, Delaware Indians were infected with smallpox after receiving blankets laced with the disease. The blankets were given to them by General Jeffrey Amherst's British troops.
The advantages to using biological weapons in warfare are plain. First off, bioweapons are easy and inexpensive to grow. Large bioweapon factories are not necessary. A small, hidden or perhaps even mobile laboratory with semi-trained workers is all that is needed to produce these weapons. Secondly, potency of a biological weapon is enormous. For a biological weapon such as botox, the amount necessary to kill 10 people is equivalent to the dot of a lower case "i."
The disadvantages of using biological weapons far outweigh the advantages. First, untrained or inexperienced lab workers could become infected themselves if they don't follow safety procedures. They could also become infected after releasing the weapon on an enemy. Furthermore, biological weapons may be destroyed if they are exposed to ultra-violet light and drying. There are also special storage needs for these weapons.
Anthrax, caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacterium, produces spores that can spread the anthrax infection. Anthrax cannot become active until it germinates. Humans can become infected with anthrax by eating contaminated food, inhaling contaminated anthrax spores, or if it enters the body through
broken skin. Anthrax became a concern in recent years, starting in 2001 when media personnel and postal workers became exposed to anthrax spores through the United States mail.
Symptoms of Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, include a high fever and blister-like rashes. After becoming exposed to the virus, symptoms do not develop for twelve days. Routine vaccinations for this virus ended in 1972 and it was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980. However,
smallpox is known to exist in laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control, The Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and possibly in poorly secured labs around the world.
Though the variola virus that causes smallpox has been eliminated for over two decades, the Centers for Disease Control says that it may be used again in bioterrorism. This is due to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in September 2001. The CDC reports that the Federal Government is taking procautions in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
Stebbins, Michael. "Introduction to Biological Weapons." Federation of American Scientists. 2006. September 19, 2006. http://www.fas.org/biosecurity/resource/bioweapons .htm
Hurlbert, Dr. R.E. "Microbiology 101 Internet Text." Washington State University. 1997. wsu.edu.
http://www.slic2.wsu.edu:82/hurlbert/micro101/pa ges/101biologicalweapons.html
WebMD. "Smallpox: Topic overview." Healthwise. March 2, 2005. Copyright 2006 Healthwise, Inc. September 19, 2006. http://www.webmd.com/hw/infection/tn8266.asp
WebMD. "Anthrax: Topic overview." Healthwise. September 20, 2004. Copyright 2006 Healthwise, Inc. September 19, 2006. http://www.webmd.com/hw/cold_and_flu/ty6358.asp
Microsoft Encarta "Chemical and Biological Warfare." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Copyright 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. September 19, 2006.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558349_2/ Chemical_and_Biological_Warfare.html
"Smallpox Disease Overview." cdc.gov. December 30, 2004. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 19, 2006. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/dise ase-facts.asp
Biological weapons have been used to attack an enemy for centuries. History tells us that in 1346, the Tartars catapulted the remains of dead plague victims to infect the citizens of Kaffa, in the Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, in 1763, Delaware Indians were infected with smallpox after receiving blankets laced with the disease. The blankets were given to them by General Jeffrey Amherst's British troops.
The advantages to using biological weapons in warfare are plain. First off, bioweapons are easy and inexpensive to grow. Large bioweapon factories are not necessary. A small, hidden or perhaps even mobile laboratory with semi-trained workers is all that is needed to produce these weapons. Secondly, potency of a biological weapon is enormous. For a biological weapon such as botox, the amount necessary to kill 10 people is equivalent to the dot of a lower case "i."
The disadvantages of using biological weapons far outweigh the advantages. First, untrained or inexperienced lab workers could become infected themselves if they don't follow safety procedures. They could also become infected after releasing the weapon on an enemy. Furthermore, biological weapons may be destroyed if they are exposed to ultra-violet light and drying. There are also special storage needs for these weapons.
Anthrax, caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacterium, produces spores that can spread the anthrax infection. Anthrax cannot become active until it germinates. Humans can become infected with anthrax by eating contaminated food, inhaling contaminated anthrax spores, or if it enters the body through
broken skin. Anthrax became a concern in recent years, starting in 2001 when media personnel and postal workers became exposed to anthrax spores through the United States mail.
Symptoms of Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, include a high fever and blister-like rashes. After becoming exposed to the virus, symptoms do not develop for twelve days. Routine vaccinations for this virus ended in 1972 and it was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980. However,
smallpox is known to exist in laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control, The Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and possibly in poorly secured labs around the world.
Though the variola virus that causes smallpox has been eliminated for over two decades, the Centers for Disease Control says that it may be used again in bioterrorism. This is due to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in September 2001. The CDC reports that the Federal Government is taking procautions in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
Stebbins, Michael. "Introduction to Biological Weapons." Federation of American Scientists. 2006. September 19, 2006. http://www.fas.org/biosecurity/resource/bioweapons .htm
Hurlbert, Dr. R.E. "Microbiology 101 Internet Text." Washington State University. 1997. wsu.edu.
http://www.slic2.wsu.edu:82/hurlbert/micro101/pa ges/101biologicalweapons.html
WebMD. "Smallpox: Topic overview." Healthwise. March 2, 2005. Copyright 2006 Healthwise, Inc. September 19, 2006. http://www.webmd.com/hw/infection/tn8266.asp
WebMD. "Anthrax: Topic overview." Healthwise. September 20, 2004. Copyright 2006 Healthwise, Inc. September 19, 2006. http://www.webmd.com/hw/cold_and_flu/ty6358.asp
Microsoft Encarta "Chemical and Biological Warfare." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Copyright 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. September 19, 2006.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558349_2/ Chemical_and_Biological_Warfare.html
"Smallpox Disease Overview." cdc.gov. December 30, 2004. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 19, 2006. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/dise ase-facts.asp
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